Can beader

ABSTRACT

Can beader which includes a plurality of roller dies mounted for rotation around a central axis, a track for moving cans around the central axis a portion of which track has a bead forming section, means for intermittently moving the roller dies into and out of the cans disposed on the can track, and means forcing the dies against the cans to form beads on the can side walls, the improvement residing in providing a safety feature which includes a overload release device between the cam follower holder and the tool holder which releases the tool holder when the roller die encounters an obstruction.

United States Patent 1 Vanderlaan in] 3,807,205 51 Apr. 30, 1974 CAN BEADER 52 us. cl. 72/4, 72/94 [51] Int. Cl B21d 55/00 [58] Field of Search 72/1, 3, 4, 94; 74/584 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,062,263 1 H1962 Austing et a] 72/94 1,105,840 8/1914' Richter 72/4 3,606,781 9/1971 Vanderlaan 72/94 3,490,404 l/l970 Vanderlaan et al. 72/94 3,208,304 9/1965 Lagler 74/584 2,818,001 12/1957 Chayka.... 74/584 Chung 72/584 Primary Examiner-Lowell A. Larson Attorney, Agent, or FirmGeorge P. MaskasyGeorge A. Kap; Donavan L. Favre [57] ABSTRA CT Can beader which includes a plurality of roller dies mounted for rotation around a central axis, a track for moving cans around the central axis a portion of which track has a bead forming section, means for intermittently moving the roller dies into and out of the cans disposed on the can track, and means forcing the dies against the cans to form beads on the can side walls, the improvement residing in providing a safety feature which includes a overload release device between the cam follower holder and the tool holder which releases the tool holder when the roller die encounters an obstruction.

5 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures Pmmemrn wm slaw/L205 sum s as s FIG - CAN BEADER Formation of beads at'spaced intervals along the side wall of cans strengthens the cans against bulging or collapsing. The' beads are formed on the cylindrical wall of a can body between a roller die or tool disposed within the can and a bead forming rail on which the can rolls through the can beader. Integral part of the can beader is a tool holder which is mounted for reciprocal movement on a pair of rods and is affixed to a push rod by means of a trip block and a link one end of which is attached to the push rod and the other, to the tool holder. The roller die is mounted on one of the rods slidably supporting the. tool holder. Attachment of the trip block to the tool holder is through a pair of detents on the tool holder which engage a pair of spring-biased detent blades disposed within the trip block clamp. Once the force of the springs is overcome, the trip block is stripped from the-detents with the result that the push rod continues on its journey without the tool holder which is associated with a roller die mounted on a common rod. The latter safety feature forms the novel aspect of the apparatus described herein.

Although the invention described herein is described in connection with the can beader illustrated and described'in the Vanderlaan U.S. Pat. No. 3,606,781, it should be understood, however, that the present invention is equally applicable to other apparatus of similar character such as the bead formers of the prior patents of those employing drive means of the general nature involved in this art.

The various features of the can beader of this invention will become apparent from the following detailed description set forth in connection with the accompanying drawings which illustrate the preferred embodiment of the present invention and are presented for the purpose of facilitating theunderstanding of the construction and operation of the can beader.

FIG. 1 is a section of the can beader taken along plane B-B of FIG. 2 which illustrates the relationship of the cans traveling on the beading path to the roller I dies which are projected into interior of the cans;

FIG. 2 is a section of the can beader taken along plane A- -A of FIG. 1 and shows the disposition of the drive shaft in relation to the roller dies which rotate around a stationary beading path;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary perspective view of the can beader which emphasizes the novel safety feature of the apparatus;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the detent pin which is threaded into the tool holder and which disengag'eably secures the novel safety feature to thetool holder;

FIG. 5' shows a pairof bores for pins in-the tool holder before the novel safety feature of the apparatus is affixed thereto;

FIG. 6 is a plane view of the trip block which is Included also inthe can beader are an annular can path 21 and means 22 for feeding cylindrical can bodies into such path at one zone and for discharging the can bodies therefrom at another zone. The annular path 21 is formed between side walls 24, 25 adapted to be adjustably spaced to accomodate can bodies of various lengths and for guiding the can bodies in succession along a fixed bead forming rail 26. The side walls 24 and 25 are provided with a plurality of bead forming stations 27 in spaced relation segmentally along the annular can path 21. Means 31 are provided for maintain- .ing the can bodies in each of their respective bead can bodies as they roll about the bead forming rail 26 concurrentlywith the side walls 24, 25 in the can path.

The guide and supporting units 29 for each roller die 28 include a slide carriage 30 mounted for reciprocation parallel to the axis of rotation of the side walls 24, 25 which is disposed outside cylindrical housing 32 within which a fixed cam track 33 is confined. A cam follower roller 34 on each slide carriage 30 extends into the fixed cam track 33 to cause reciprocation of the carriage 30 and the bead forming roller die 28 thereon as the latter travels around the housing 32 and can path 21, respectively. The cam track 33 is coordinated with a bead forming portion 26' of the bead forming rail 26 such that when the can bodies approach the portion 26' the roller dies 28 enter the respective can bodies and as the latter leave the bead forming portion 26' the roller dies 28 are withdrawnfrom the can bodies freeing them for discharge from the can path 21.

' Within each bead forming station 27, a pair of spring loaded lever arms 35, 35 are biased against the roller bearings 36, 36 mounted on the roller dies 28 by springs 38, 38, one within each ring 24 and 25. These lever arms 35, 35' are disposed to yieldably urge the roller dies 28 toward the bead forming portion 26 of the forming rail 26 for pressing the can bodies firmly against the beads on the portion 26'. However, the arms 35, 35 are limited against such pressure to the extent that no pressure is applied to the roller dies 28 during passage through zones other than that adjacent the bead forming portion'26'. Thus, sufficient clearance is provided between the roller dies 28 and the beading rail 26 during reciprocation of the roller dies 28 into and out of the can track and the cans therein.

It should here be noted that the bead forming portion 26' of the fixed beading rail 26 includes a small increment 37 disposed radially of the non-beaded portion of the rail 26. This raised section 37 of the bead forming portion 26 includes a number of half beads spaced from one another transversely of the can path 21. The bead forming rollers 28 include a plurality of beads 39 having annular grooves 41 which register with the beads on the bead forming portion 26 of the beading rail 26. By this arrangement, as the can bodies roll onto the bead forming portion 26' they are elevated due to the increment 37 against the bead forming rollers 28.

Although the roller dies 28 yield slightly due to the spring pressure from the lever arms 35, they firmly press the can bodies against the beaded portion 26 of the rail 26. The can bodies may roll several revolutions during passage over the raised bead forming portion 26' of the rail 26 to thereby impress creases or beads inwardly of the cylindrical can bodies in the course of such travel.

As shown in FIG. 2, a series of webs extend laterally from the flange l5 and support annular ring 16 on which is mounted rack gear 43. The fixed rack gear 43 and the fixed cam track 33 provided on the annular ring 16 are enclosed in the housing 32 which has at one end a main boss 52 secured to the drive shaft 14 midway between the inner ends of the fixed bearings 12 and 13. The other end of the housing 32 is provided with a ball bearing seal 53 on bearing 13 for rotation co-axially thereof.

The rings or side walls 24 and 25 are supported on and moveable with a tubular extension 55 of the housing 32. The bead forming rail 26 is supported on rollers 56 spaced segmentally around the tubular extension 55 and the rings 24, 25. The beading rail 26 is fixed against movement by suitable brackets 91 and 93 which extend from the stationary frame 1 1 into the can path 21 in the non-beading zone thereof, i.e. between the can body infeed and discharge zones.

As illustrated in FIG. 2, the slide carriages 30 of each guide and supporting units 29 of each of the roller dies 28 are mounted for reciprocal movement on a pair of rods 57 and 58. These rods 57 and 58 have their ends secured to the rotary housing 32 between the inner ring 25 of the can path 21 and brackets extending radially from the housing 32. The slide carriages 30 include a cam follower and tool holder. The cam follower is mounted on a holder 60 for sliding movement upon the innermost one of the rods 57 closest to the housing 32.

' The cam follower holder 60 has a cam follower head 61 which extends into a guide slot 62 formed in the side wall of the housing 32 for guidance parallel to the axis of rotation thereof. The cam follower roller 34 is mounted on the inner end of the head 61 and extends into the cam track 33, as previously mentioned. The cam follower holder 60 is connected to a tool holder 69, shown in FIG. 3. The opposite end of the cam follower holder 60 (FIG. 2) is provided with an annular groove 63 formed therein to receive a two-piece clamp end 64 of a link 65. The opposite end 66 (FIG. 3) of the link extends into a slot 67 formed in a slide boss 68 of tool holder 69.

As shown in FIG. 3, the tool holder 69 has a bearing boss 70 thereon disposed substantially axially of and opposite a respective bead forming station 27 on the can path 21. Each bearing boss 70 supports a spindle shaft 71 which has mounted thereon one of the roller dies 28 for movement into and out of the can path 21. As is better shown in FIG. 2, the opposite end of the spindle shaft 71 is connected by a universal joint 72 to one end of a splined shaft 79. Shaft'79 is disposed in sleeve member 73 one end of which has a splined bushing 74 secured therein to receive splined shaft 79 thus facilitating telescopic movement of the bushing and sleeve member 73 relative thereto. The opposite end of the sleeve member 73'is connected by a universal joint 76 to a stud shaft 77 suitably journaled in ball bearings 78, 78' in an extension of the housing 32 embracing the perimeter of the fixed rack gear 43 therein. The pinion gears 44 for each roller die 28 are mounted on and secured to the respective stud shaft 77 for rotation therewith as influenced by the stationary rack gear 43 as the housing 32 rotates with the shaft 14. The shaft 14 is driven by suitable drive means via an outer gear.

By the foregoing arrangement, each of the roller dies 28 is supported for reciprocation into and out of. the can path 21 in timed relation with the movement of the cam follower rollers 34 relative to the fixed cam track 33. The cam follower head 61 is confined within a caplike closure 59 secured to the housing 32 over the guide slot 62 to keep an oil bath within the housing 32 confined therein. The cam follower holder 60 mounted on the rod 57, although moveable inwardly and outwardly of the cap-like closure 59, is adequately sealed by an oil seal ring 80 at the open end of the closure 59. Cam

plate 120 is affixed to tool holder 69 by means of blocks 121 which form a housing in which guide rod 122 reciprocates.

When the roller dies 28 are retracted from the can path 21, cam plates 120 on tool holders 69 engage guide bars 122 mounted on the housing 32. However, when the dies 28 are in can engagingposition within the can path 21, cam plates 120 are free of the guide bars 122 such that the roller dies 28 maybe deflected in a radial direction by increment 37 on the beading rail 26. This is accomplished by cooperating camming surfaces on cam plate 120 and on the left hand extremity of guide rod 122.

In accordance with the present invention, the pinion gears 44 are all maintained in a relatively fixed relation to the fixed rack gear 43. That is to say, the axis of each stud shaft 77 is at all times maintained at a precise radial distance from the annular rack gear 43 so that the pitch diameter of the latter and that of the pinion gears 44 are always tangetially disposed. This assures that the pinion gears will always turn at pitch-line velocity and the roller dies 28 will rotate at the same speed as the respective pinion gears 44. The beads 39 of the roller dies 28 have outer peripheries coinciding with the pitch diameter of the pinion gears 44. Consequently, the can engagingperipheries of the roller dies 28 turn at pitchline velocity regardless of the thickness of the can hedies or seam joints therein. This is important because of the yieldability'of the roller dies 28 due to the thickness of the can bodies and especially when engaging the four layers at the seams of the can bodies. Any movement of the pinion gears 44 radially outwardly from pitch-line would normally change the speed of rotation of the pinion gears and complementarily, the speed of rotationof the roller dies 28.

With the universal joints 72 and 76 are interposed between the yieldableroller dies 28 and their respective pinion gears 44, no such change in pitch-line velocity can occur and scratching of the can bodies has thus been eliminated. It will thus be appreciated that the roller dies 28 are rotated at identical pitch-line velocity throughout the bead forming operation regardless of radial shifting of the dies.

Looking now at FIG. 3, slide 69 has a pair of detent pins 92, one of which is shown in FIG. 4, which are secured in threaded bores 94. The detent pins have a frustum cone head 96 connected to a tapered section 98. Detent 100 is provided between tapered section 98 on one side and a shoulder 102 on the other. Threaded '5 section 104 is at the opposite end of the detent pin and is used to secure same to slide 69.

Trip block 106, shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, is a rectangular plate with a pair of spaced rectangular channels 108 at opposite sides thereof. A pair of bores 110 receive the frustum end of detent pins 92. A pair of bores 112 are disposed between channels 100 perpendicularly thereto and receive compression springs, not shown. Detent blades 114 are loosely disposed in channels 108 with their apexes facing openings 110. Central opening 116 is provided for locating trip block 106 on rod 58 in relationto the detent pins 92. Cover plate 118 is secured to the face of the trip block to confine detent blades therein.

In its assembled condition, trip block 106 is mounted on detent pins 92 by forcing detent pins 92 through openings 1 10 until the detent blades are sprung into detents 100. In this condition, compression springs disposed within bores 112 push on detent blades 114 and force them against detent pins 92.

As should be apparent now, there is a certain force which, when applied by link 65 against trip block 106, will force the blades apart and allow the detent pins to slip out. The compression springs are selected scrupulously so as to yieldto a certain predetermined force which may be encountered when a roller die 28 is pushed against an obstruction.

At a point when the tool holder 69 is in its fully extended beading position, a limit switch 105, see FIG. 3, is positioned above the guide rod 58 with an arm extending towards the tool holder. Should the tool holder be out of position at that point and be displaced inwardly, the arm of the limit switch will be contacted by the tool holder and this will shut-off the drive motor. The -limit switch is disposed in such a manner over the guide rod 58 so as to shut off the drive motor when the push rod 57 leaves the tool holder behind on its return. This can happen when the tool holder breaks and the push rod cannot retract it.

I claim:

1. In a can beading apparatus wherein can bodies are the cans, said roller die being mounted on a' rod and reciprocated by a cam follower holder between an inactive position and an operating position within a can disposed on said beading rail, the improvement comprising a tool holder rigidly affixed on said roller dierod, an overload release means releasably mounted on said tool holder and a link means interconnecting said cam follower holder and said overload release means which serves to transmit motion from said cam follower holder to said tool holder through said overload release means and in case said roller die encounters an obstruction, said link means would strip said overload release means off said tool holder.

2. Apparatus of claim 1 including a pair of detent pins mounted on said tool holder, said overload release means being releasably mounted on said detent pins.

3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said overload release means includes a trip block; a pair of spaced, parallel channels in said trip block; a detent blade disposed in each of said channels; a pair of spaced bores in said trip block adjacent each of said channels and partly extending thereinto having disposed therein said detent pins; spring means in said trip block urging said detent blades against said detent pins for maintaining said-detent blades and said detent pins in a releasably joined condition.

detecting position of said tool holder, drive means for said apparatus and means for de-energizing said drive means by said limit switch when said tool holder is not in its intended position. 

1. In a can beading apparatus wherein can bodies are moved around a can path and pressed against a beading rail by a roller die having complementing bead formations which is rotated about a central axis along with the cans, said roller die being mounted on a rod and reciprocated by a cam follower holder between an inactive position and an operating position within a can disposed on said beading rail, the improvement comprising a tool holder rigidly affixed on said roller die rod, an overload release means releasably mounted on said tool holder and a link means interconnecting said cam follower holder and said overload release means which serves to transmit motion from said cam follower holder to said tool holder through said overload release means and in case said roller die encounters an obstruction, said link means would strip said overload release means off said tool holder.
 2. Apparatus of claim 1 including a pair of detent pins mounted on said tool holder, said overload release means being releasably mounted on said detent pins.
 3. Apparatus of claim 2 wherein said overload release means includes a trip block; a pair of spaced, parallel channels in said trip block; a detent blade disposed in each of said channels; a pair of spaced bores in said trip block adjacent each of said channels and partly extending thereinto having disposed therein said detent pins; spring means in said trip block urging said detent blades against said detent pins for maintaining said detent blades and said detent pins in a releasably joined condition.
 4. Apparatus of claim 3 wherein each of said detent blades is triangular in cross-section and said detent pins include a frustrum head, a tapered section adjacent said frustrum head and a detent adjacent said tapered section wherein the apex of said detent blade is disposed.
 5. Apparatus of claim 4 including a limit switch for detecting position of said tool holder, drive means for said apparatus and means for de-energizing said drive means by said limit switch when said tool holder is not in its intended position. 